The angels had cautioned Eve to beware of separating herself from her husband while occupied in their daily labor in the garden; with him she would be in less danger from temptation than if she were alone. But absorbed in her pleasing task, she 54 unconsciously wandered from his side. On perceiving that she was alone, she felt an apprehension of danger, but dismissed her fears, deciding that she had sufficient wisdom and strength to discern evil and to withstand it. Unmindful of the angels' caution, she soon found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the forbidden tree. The fruit was very beautiful, and she questioned with herself why God had withheld it from them. Now was the tempter's opportunity. As if he were able to discern the workings of her mind, he addressed her: "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Eve was surprised and startled as she thus seemed to hear the echo of her thoughts. But the serpent continued, in a musical voice, with subtle praise of her surpassing loveliness; and his words were not displeasing. Instead of fleeing from the spot she lingered wonderingly to hear a serpent speak. Had she been addressed by a being like the angels, her fears would have been excited; but she had no thought that the fascinating serpent could become the medium of the fallen foe.

Englene havde advaret Eva mod at gå bort fra sin mand, mens de var beskæftiget med deres daglige arbejde i haven, Når hun var sammen med ham, ville hun være mindre udsat for fristelse, end når hun var alene. Men optaget af sit behagelige arbejde vandrede hun ubevidst bort fra hans side. Da hun opdagede, at hun var alene, følte hun ængstelse for en eller anden fare; men hun jog frygten bort, idet hun kom til den slutning, at hun havde tilstrækkelig visdom og styrke til at se det onde og modstå det. Uden at give agt på englenes advarsel befandt hun sig snart i en blanding af beundring og nysgerrighed over for det forbudne træ. Frugten var meget smuk, og hun spurgte sig selv, hvorfor Gud havde forholdt dem den. Nu havde fristeren sin anledning. Som om han var i stand til at læse hendes tanker, talte han til hende: "Mon Gud virkelig har sagt: I må ikke spise af noget træ i haven?" Eva blev overrasket og forskrækket, idet Hun så at sige hørte et ekko af sine egne tanker. Med melodisk stemme fortsatte slangen underfundigt at rose hendes overordentlige skønhed, og hans ord var slet ikke ubehagelige. I stedet for at flygte fra stedet tøvede hun i undren over at høre en slange tale. Var hun blevet tiltalt af et væsen som englene, ville hendes frygt være blevet vakt; men hun kunne ikke tænke sig, at den fortryllende slange kunne være et redskab for den falske fjende.